Lac-Mégantic rail disaster

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Lac-Mégantic derailment
View of Lac-Mégantic on the day of the derailment
Details
Time01:15 EDT (05:15 UTC)
LocationLac-Mégantic, Quebec, Canada
Coordinates45°34′40″N 70°53′6″W / 45.57778°N 70.88500°W / 45.57778; -70.88500Coordinates: 45°34′40″N 70°53′6″W / 45.57778°N 70.88500°W / 45.57778; -70.88500
CountryCanada
OperatorMontreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway
Type of incidentDerailment
Statistics
Trains1
Deaths47 (42 confirmed,[1] 5 presumed[2])
Damage30+ building destroyed[3]

The Lac-Mégantic derailment happened on July 6, 2013 in the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec at approximately 01:15 EDT.[4] It happened after an unattended 74-car freight train[5] which was carrying Bakken formation crude oil ran away and derailed. The result was a fire and explosion of multiple tank cars. In the disaster, 42 people were confirmed dead[1] and 5 missing people were presumed dead.[2]

The Lac-Mégantic derailment is the fourth deadliest rail accident in Canadian history,[6] as well as the deadliest rail disaster in Canada since the St-Hilaire train disaster in 1864.[7]

On July 8, Canada's monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, issued a message which expressed her and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's, "profound sadness [over the] tragic events that have befallen the town of Lac-Mégantic" and hope "that in time it will be possible to rebuild both the property and the lives of those who have been affected."[8] Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered his prayers and condolences to those affected.[9] The President of the United States, Barack Obama, expressed condolences for the "devastating loss of life" and offered American help, if needed.[10]

Lac-Mégantic Rail Disaster Media

  • GE C30-7 #5023, one of the locomotives involved, seen when it was operating for the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1986

  • The train travelled 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) down a descending grade from Nantes to Lac-Mégantic.

  • Infrared image taken by NASA's Suomi NPP satellite shows the fire that followed the derailment: on the left, taken two days before; on the right, taken about two hours after the explosions.

  • The Lieutenant Governor-in-Council ordered all provincial flags to be flown at half mast on public buildings for 7 days following the derailment.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 As Lac-Mégantic death toll reaches 47, safety board calls for immediate rail-safety changesThe Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lac-Mégantic : la SQ met fin à ses recherchesRadio-Canada (in French). Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  3. ↑ 1 confirmed dead after unmanned train derails, explodes in Lac-MeganticCTV News. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  4. ↑ Press Release: Derailment in Lac-Megantic, QuebecMontreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  5. ↑ Insight: How a train ran away and devastated a Canadian townReuters. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  6. ↑ 10 of Canada's worst train accidentsMaclean's. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  7. ↑ Canada train derailment: Death toll at 50; Lac-Megantic residents jeer rail CEO (photos)Associated Press. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  8. ↑ Queen expresses profound sadness over Lac Megantic disasterGlobal News. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  9. ↑ Lac-Megantic Explosions And Fire Sparked By Train Derailment, 5 Confirmed Dead (PHOTOS, VIDEO). The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  10. ↑ Obama offers U.S. help over Lac-Megantic disasterGlobal News. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
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